Lake City

Councilman Hill Stands
Tough Against the Tide
City
Manager Johnson Heaped With Praise

LAKE CITY, FL – Last night in City Hall,
City Councilman Jake Hill's continued
efforts to oust City Manager Wendell Johnson
found no support from the rest of the City
Council. City workers with gripes, who
wanted to remain employed, stayed away, as
others lined up behind Assistant City
Manager Grayson Cason in a well scripted
show of support for the nine year City
Manager who has had a sometimes turbulent
career in Lake City and who has recently
taken hits in the press and with the public.

Shortly after the Council meeting got
underway, Mayor Witt told the crowd, "We
have quite a few people signed up. Is there
anybody that is not signed up who wants to
speak to Council?"

Mayor Witt asked everyone to speak as
briefly as possible, to be respectful and
address the Council.

One by One the Speakers Came to the
Microphone

Local business woman Beverly Reed
directed her questions and remarks to
Councilman Hill, "I just have a very simple
question to ask. This is not my comfort
zone. My question is directed to Councilman
Hill... I am sure I will get an answer that
will appease my heart. Are you the one that
brought the vote of confidence of the City
Manager before the City Council?"

Beverly Reed homed in on Councilman Hill

Councilman Hill responded, "Yes."

Ms. Reed continued, "I'm sure you have a
detailed list of things that the City
Manager has done: dates, times, events to
warrant such a vote that would prove that
he's abused the City Manager position.
Councilman, if you have that, I'm through."

Mr. Hill responded, "Well, I don't have
it, but I do have the people that put me in
this position, among other people. I've got
City employees, who right now are scared
because of that man right there. [City
Manager Johnson]

Ms. Reed followed up, "There is nothing
but talk and it concerns me."

Mr. Hill: "That's your opinion and
I have my opinion."

Ms. Reed: "It concerns me that
nothing is in writing... When you were
Councilman before, I think this has happened
before... Tell me you are not using your
position to create a hostile working
environment. That's what concerns me."

Mr. Hill responded, "I'm not using my
position to harass this man. I am his boss.
I'm dissatisfied with his performance. I
have the right to do what I am doing. That
man right there is unfit to be the City
Manager of Lake City. That's my opinion."

Ms. Reed, still wanting specifics,
followed up, "Then tell me why."

Mr. Hill replied, "Because of things he
has done in the past. I have asked him to
do jobs -- do things in my district -- it
was a problem. It didn't get done. Anybody
else that sits on this board asks him to do
something -- it gets done."

Ms. Reed continued asking for something
in writing. She claimed Hill was harassing
Johnson. She said, "You know, a boss can
harass somebody."

Mr. Hill responded, "You know, you're
right. That man there has harassed several
City employees that walk around scared of
losing their jobs. And the sad part about it
is, this Council, believes whatever he tells
them. That's what they do. They don't do any
research on him -- none. Whatever he tells
them. That's it."

Ms Reed said, "There is no proof. That is
what worries me... but you've answered my
question."

Mr. Hill remarked, "I hope there is no
hard feelings."

Ms. Reed concluded, "No, there's not."

16 Year Veteran of the City
Council Concerned About Trust

Next up to the microphone was former 16
year veteran of the City Council, Glenel
Bowden

Glenel Bowden, "People have
dissatisfaction."

Mr. Bowden: "I came to talk about
what I view as the lack of confidence and
trust that I see taking place for our form
of government. I walk around the
neighborhood and people have
dissatisfaction... I know there are people
that really have lost confidence in this
government... When they start losing
confidence in local government, we have a
problem, because where else can we turn?"

Mr. Bowden complained about the outburst
between City Manager Johnson and Robert
Bridges of the City's mainstream media, the
Lake City Reporter, opining that Mr. Johnson
was supposed to get along with the
newspaper.

Mr. Bowden concluded, "You've got to know
this. Everybody in this community is not
satisfied and there may not be a
majority that is not satisfied, but there is
enough that people are whispering about
what's the next step? ... The person who
manages the City has to have the respect and
the confidence of its local citizens."

Asst. City Manager Cason.

A Parade of City Workers

Assistant City Manager Grayson Cason came
to the microphone. Mayor Witt handed him a
list of what appeared to be City
employees who supported the City Manager.

Mr. Cason read a letter of support from
an unnamed employee.

Mr. Cason then called the roll of many of
the City's top brass.

Lurette Burks

Lurette Burks, Director of Procurement,
praised the City Manager. "Wendell Johnson
stands far above the rest. He exemplifies
the moral character, ethics, and overall
knowledge in all aspects of City government
that far exceeds his predecessors."

Ms. Burks said she was disappointed to
see a vote of confidence on the agenda for
Mr. Johnson.

Roland Luster, the airport manager was
next. He said, "I want to thank you for
allowing me to address you and show my
support for the outstanding job Mr. Johnson
is doing."

Roland Luster

Mr. Luster continued the theme, "For the
past few months a very small group of people
have showed a disagreement with Mr. Johnson
and has turned this disagreement into a
public character assassination of him."

Mr. Luster claimed that the disagreements
were vindictive and he thought "this had to
stop."

Mr. Luster's appointment as airport manager was steeped in controversy when Mr.
Johnson veered from accepted hiring
practices and anointed Mr. Luster to the
job.

Paul Dyal

Next up was Paul Dyal, Assistant City
Manager of Utilities and Public Works. In
some City circles, Mr. Dyal's appointment
and job reclassification was another
controversial issue.

Mr. Dyal told the City Council: "I'm not
a politician. What I've seen at the last few
council meetings over the last few months is
a disgrace... Once you get chatter started
that there is divisiveness in our government,
that's bad. It's bad trying to come up with
explanations or reasons why it happens. Why
the Council, our governing body allows these
things to happen... I've already had one
granddaughter move away from Lake City
because there are not many good job
opportunities here... We need good
government."

Last in the Roll Call: Police Chief
Argatha Gilmore

Lake City Police Chief Gilmore

In and about 2008-09, Police Chief
Gilmore came to Lake City. It was an
appointment steeped in controversy, discord,
and rumors. From the beginning, Councilman
Hill has not been a big supporter of the
Chief and the feeling appears to be
reciprocal.

However, Chief Gilmore has toughed it out
and is well liked in the community. It is
believed that when City Manager Johnson
leaves Lake City, the Chief will not be far
behind.

Chief Gilmore: I want to look the
City Manager in the eye and say I support
you and I appreciate you for the opportunity
that you gave me to be a police chief, which
is my dream... Healthy debate is good, but
when it is a character assassination, when
it's hateful and spiteful all of those
vindictive things come into play ... I think
we need to be role models to those who look
upon us as leaders in the community... Let's
put a stop to all this evil and all this
hatred that's going on. That's the core of
everything that we are seeing."

Praising Caesar
Assistant City Manager Cason Wraps it Up

Mr. Cason told the Council, "We're all
very in sync and hopeful that Council can
find a way to extend Mr. Johnson's career --
keep the momentum going. Wendell Johnson is
a good City Manager."

Councilman Hill

Councilman Hill Not Dissuaded

Mr. Hill was not dissuaded by the
comments and made a motion to fire City
Manager Johnson.

Mayor Witt asked for a second. There was
none.

The motion died for lack of a second.

Councilman Ward

Councilman Ward asked the Mayor for
permission to make motion, which was
granted.

Mr. Ward said, "I would like to move for
an affirmation vote for support and belief
that Wendell Johnson as our City Manger and
should continue to be our City Manager until
he's ready to go or the full council is
ready for him to go."

The City Manager serves at the pleasure
of a majority of the City Council. That is
three members, not the full Council.

Mayor Witt asked, "Is that your motion?
Is there a second to that motion?"

Councilwoman Moses seconded the motion.

Mayor Witt: "We have a motion and a
second. Is there any discussion?"

City Attorney Fred Koberlein Whispers
Into Action

Attorney Koberlein began whispering with
Councilman Ward.

Councilman Ward (left) and City Attorney
Fred Koberlein, shortly after the whispering
incident.

Mr. Koberlein announced, "Mayor, there
may be a problem with the motion as to full
support." He did not elaborate.

Mayor Witt: "Right." "I support Mr.
Johnson. He's never misled me. I think he's
done a great job. He never said anything
that's untrue that I'm aware of."

Ward followed up, "I've been here 20
years. Mr. Johnson is the best City Manager
I've ever served with.

Council persons Moses and Jefferson had
nothing to add.

The Mayor asked for the vote.

People in the audience were asking what
the motion was.

The clerk called the role, 4 in favor,
Hill against.

Mayor Witt then appointed Councilman Hill
as Vice Mayor for 2018.

City Manager Wendell Johnson

City Manager Johnson: The Last Word

Before the meeting was adjourned, Mr.
Johnson said he appreciated the vote of
confidence.

Ratcheting back his rhetoric, he told the
Council, "I do my best. I am an honest man.
I have character and values... I make no
secret about it; my plans for the future
include retirement. I'll be 69 my next
birthday. I've always planned to retire when
I felt comfortable with it. I want to give
the Council ample notice to find a successor
when I do choose retire. Thank you --
everybody that knows me and supported me. I
appreciate that more than you can know."

Epilogue

I applaud Mr. Hill for
speaking up for the working people, that do all the hard
work. I know from first hand experience that the front
line workers are always the ones with less job security
and are so easily replaced , because of politics. The
other council members need to understand that they are
elected by the people and should represent the people, I
am sure they have heard complaints from the workers in
their prospective district and for whatever reason they
have turned a deaf ear to the very people that votes
them in, just like Mr. Johnson is looking forward to
retirement so are the hard working people that work for
the city do also, and to have to deal with the
undertones of being fired they complain is just down
right shameful.